Unsuck DC Metro: Another Fight at L'Enfant

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Another Fight at L'Enfant

According to Metro, "MTPD took a report for simple assault Oct. 7. A man reported being assaulted by a group while waiting for a train."

From Nicole:

I was at the L'Enfant Plaza a little before 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 when a fight broke out.

It was on the Yellow/Green line platform in the direction of Branch Ave./Huntington. It was rather quick because other riders stopped it before it got out of hand. I would say the whole thing lasted 5 minutes at most. No one was seriously hurt, but there was the potential had riders not stepped up to stop it.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the clearest view to provide good details. It was a group of 10 to 12 teenagers, and it appeared they were waiting for the kid they attacked. It was at least five minutes after things were broken up before anyone from Metro appeared.

I also witnessed a man get hit at L'Enfant in August.

I wish Metro would provide more security at L'Enfant because I'm fearful the next time won't be punches but a shooting.

Nicole wasn't the only one to witness the event, and the next day, she noticed Metro had at least four employees on the L'Enfant Plaza platform. She wondered if it was a result of the previous night's fisticuffs.

Other items:
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Corresponding Toads · 754 weeks ago

People fight on the metro just like they fight everywhere else on this planet.

If you want to protection from violence, lock yourself in a house and never leave.

4 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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Kara Harkins · 754 weeks ago

It was explained to me that some people are afraid of heights so they take the elevator. Which to me is just insane ... if that were your worry I think you would rather have solid rock under you than a few cables.

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Kara Harkins · 754 weeks ago

Grr .... my browser decided to fill an old comment into my reply it looks like. I was asking if metro had a culture of safety why we need to avoid metro.

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@VeggieTart · 754 weeks ago

Does the term "disturbing the peace" have no meaning for you?

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admiror · 754 weeks ago

Be that as it may, no one wants to be a victim of those fights. I've been jumped at a metro station before--they didn't know me and didn't seem to want anything but to pick on someone or perhaps to start a fight. It's not common but when multiple kids get rowdy they get stupid. They're less likely to be stupid if there is a police presence.

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Guest · 754 weeks ago

It's good to see Metro may have made a response to this, but then again, wouldn't it be better to put in place some kind of policing that would prevent this kind of thing from ever happening. I am a regular Chinatown/L'Enfant rider, and these stations are so very often on the border of exploding into a riot.

3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago

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SoBar · 754 weeks ago

Agreed.

Couldn't Metro use the money they're paying the "greeters" and instead put a few dedicated transit cops to consistently patrol the most troublesome stations/lines?

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mitchellT · 752 weeks ago

"Troublesome?" That would be profiling, you racist. DC would never commit the atrocity of denying its thousands of violent criminals their civil rights.

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Mike · 754 weeks ago

Maybe they could just have the greeters add a few words to their welcome: "Hi, welcome to Metro - are you planning on beating anybody up today?"

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Sick of the Animals · 754 weeks ago

Behavior like this is not surprising on the Ghetto Line. Sorry, I meant to say the Green Line.

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Not White/Not Racist · 745 weeks ago

It's not just the Green Line. It's every line. You see the groups of loitering dirty ghetto kids step off the metro in Bethesda - for the purpose of loitering, swearing, spitting, taunting and nothing more....But let's not say anything offensive...instead let's discuss how underprivileged they are, these unfairly prosecuted victims of society. Let’s give them a college scholarship. Then maybe they’ll stop fighting on the metro…where people who won’t be pregnant, in jail or dead by age 16 actually commute to WORK.